Combination telescopic oar and pump



July 17, 1962 w. F. EDMUNDSON 3,044,410

COMBINATION TELESCOPIC OAR AND PUMP Filed April 8, 1957 FIG. 2.

//V VE/V TOR. V i/717M E [0171/11/05 M A TTORNEY Uited ttes This invention relates to an improved combination telescopic car and pump and has for one of its principal objects the provision, in a single instrument, of means for propelling :a small craft through the water and at the same time providing a water and air pump for use in inflating the craft or removing excess water from the interior thereof.

The telescopic and locking features of the novel oar and pump of this invention are shown and described in my earlier application for patent entitled Lock for Telescopic Connections, filed August 29, 1955, Serial No. 530,959, now Patent No. 2,873,129.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide an oar or paddle for small water craft, which can be telescope dor collapsed into a relatively short length for storage when not in use and which, at the same time, and particularly because of its telescoping collapsible construction, can be efliciently employed as an air pump for inflating rubber or other small boats of such types, and conversely, as a water pump for removing excess and undesirable water from the interior of such a boat or craft.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a telescopic oar or paddle, Which is so constructed that it will of itself possess sufiicient buoyancy so as to'iloat upon water, even though partially or fully collapsed or telescoped.

Yet another important object of the invention is the provision, in a telescopic or collapsible oar, of a pump means which forms an actual part of the telescoping handle, thereby providing an additional and very serviceable feature, while at the same time lock means are provided, whereby the handle will always remain fully extended for propelling purposes when such is desired, as distinguished from any pumping action.

Another and still further import-ant object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the class described which can be readily shifted from an oar or paddle construction to that of an air and water pump construction and in a minimum space of time and with practically no previous instruction or training.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the improved combination telescopic oar and water and air pump of this invention, showing the same in extended position.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1, but showing the device in telescoped or collapsed position, in which condition it is available for use as a pump.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section of the line 44 of FIG- URE 3, looking in the direction indicated.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail view on the line 55 of FIGURE 1, illustrating certain interior construction of an attachment.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral indicates generally the water contacting portion of the oar or paddle of this invention.

2 This is in two mating sections, shaped as best shown in FIGURE 4, and includes a central tube element and two opposed side sections, partly fiat and partly cylindrical in shape. These cylinders are for the purpose of receiving some buoyant material 12 which may be kapokf or some plastic foam, which contains a great numberof air cells, thereby rendering the same considerably lighter than water.

The material of the paddle is preferably aluminum or some similar suitable metal, and the central section has a cylindrical insert or tube 14, which extends beyond one end and is fastened in position by screws 46 at the other end (FIGURE 3).

Slidably fitted inside the tube 14 is another metallic cylinder 16, which is of a length slightly greater than that of the tube 14 and which, in addition to including a set of three matched expanding cam elements 18, as more fully described in my earlier application for patent, also includes, at its end, a piston 20 composed of two flanged leather or other discs held in position by circular metal plates 22. The assembly of the leather and metal discs is held in position by means of a screw 24 fitted into a block 26 and thence into a metal or other cylinder 28 which comprises a portion of the locking element 30 which cooperates with the set of locking elements .18 (FIGURE 3). The element 30 is fastened into the end of the tube or cylinder 16 by indentations or the like 32 and, therefore, forms a permanent part of this section of the handle.

Slidably fitted inside the length of tubing 16 is another piece of tube 34, which is of an external diameter to correspond to the internal diameter of the tubing 16 and thereby provides a sliding fit.

The inner end of the length of tubing or handle element 34 is fitted with a rotatable locking construction 42 similar to that illustrated at 1830 and also as described in my earlier application for patent.

The ends of the tubing elements 14 and 16 are annularly indented or recessed as at 36 and 38, respectively, so that there will be no liability of the parts accidentally coming apart when pulled or operated. A closure cap or plug 40 is provided for the end of the length of tubing or handle element 34.

The extreme other end of the combined tubing and paddle unit 10-14 is closed by plug 50, having a central aperture therein, as shown at 52. This aperture 52 is partially internally screw threaded for the removable reception of a correspondingly screw-threaded v-alve element 54 (FIGURES 3 and 5) and an O-ring'56 is inserted at the junction of the plug 50 and the tubing 14 for fluid sealing purposes.

Obviously, an outward pulling movement of the handle section 16, with its attached piston 26-422 will, when the end of the oar is dipped in water, draw a certain amount of water into the tube 14, which water can then later be expelled by an inward movement of the section 16. In this manner the oar can be used as -a bilge or other water pump, by first drawing in water through the opening 52 and then expelling the same through the same opening when the paddle or car is lifted into the 'In the event that the device is to be employed as an air pump, the valve element 54 is fitted into the screw threaded portion of the opening 52; and it will be noted from the showing in FIGURE 5, that the valve element 54 is provided with a longitudinal opening 56, which is in alignment with the opening 52. Also, a cross opening 58, which is at right angles to the first opening. A springpressed ball valve 60 is inserted in the cross opening 58 and an apertured retaining plug 62 is fitted into a correspondingly screw-threaded portion of the cross opening 58.

pumping movement of the handle 16, similarly to "that employed'inpumping water; will enter through the opening 66 in theplug 62'as indicated by the arrow, in

and the reverse movement of the handle eleinentf1 6 expel the air through the opening 56 into the'devie to be inflated, lalso as'indic'ated by the second in FIGURE 5. As shown in this'figure, another spring-pressed ball 70 cooperates with the ball valve 60 to provide a properly acting air pump for the purpose described. I 4 p v The handle section34 is usually partly "or completely 'filled with'some buoyant material so as to positively insure floating of the oarunder all circumstances, even when fully collapsed. Additionally, a small space, closed by'a' screw-threaded or "other removable cap, can be provided at the outer end of the section 34; and'this can be employed for storing the element 54 of FIGURE 5 when the saine is not in use, and additional items may be placed :therein, such as ;a small filterorthe like which could be used for stnaining or even de-salinizing sea water.

'It will evident that herein is provided a combination j'oar 'or'paddle, which is telescopic and which, due to the fact that it is telescopic, can also be efiiciently employed as a water and air pump. Additionally, the handle sections'can be readily locked into any desired relationship ito each other when the device is to be employed as a boat propelling element, as distinguished from a pump.

This construction will be found particularly useful in many embodiments, and especially so in connection with e uipmem used by the armed services or similar organ i'zations as a portion of a life saving; unit. The light weight, combined with strength and float-ability, together with the features of collapsibility and employment as a water and air pump, also as a filter and de-salinizer,

combine to produce a highly valuable unit for emergencies, also in sports and other environments.

Additionally, the device can be stored and remain unused for indefinite periods or time, but will never deteriorate to such an extent that its immediate usefulness will be impaired when an emergency or necessity I am aware that many'changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing tram the principles of this invention; and I, therefore, do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art. 7 a

I claim as my invention: 7 p

A' combination telescopic'oar'andair and water pump, wherein the bar includes a paddle section and a plurality of connected handle, sections slidable relatively to each other, one of: the handle sections comprising' an operating 'por'tionof the'punip, areleasable locking means on each 'handle'se ction, a pump piston attached tolthe releasable locking means of the inner-most ofjthe handle sections, an

*apertured plug in one end of thedevice, a removable valve element for the apertured plug, said removable element forming part of the air and water pump and including spring pressed balls and a hose attachment, the

locking means'in the last of the handle sections acting with the-pump piston when in released position.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

